mittens BLOCKED

How come your mittens look so even - cause much like lace - I block the snot out of it! So this is a picture of the new mitten I've been working on and that very odd looking paddle well that's how I block.

About 13 years ago the hubby took a basket of my mittens into the office. He figured in Minnesota on a 20 degree below zero morning - someone might want to buy a pair. We put a price of $23 a pair for all wool mittens like the ones above was fair. He said people put stuff out in the lunch room and then if it sold great and if it didn't then the stuff came home on Friday. So my snowman of a hubby loaded up the truck and off he went to work - I told him there was no way anyone would buy them - they were too expensive - and lets face facts - Minnesota/Wisconsin is home to some of the best knitters I've ever had the pleasure to meet! I got a call at 8:10 am - after a little small talk - yup the eagles are flying over the frozen Mississippi - yes the road into Winona was a little slick - yup the school bus made it up the ridge today - sold all 12 pairs of the mittens they want to know if you take custom orders - and Jimmy has something for you.... Wait go back to the part where you sold my stuff - quit joking - you've only been at the office for a couple of hours!

He came home that night with an envelope full of cash and checks - short by $7 cause he'd gone out to lunch to the GreenMill - he mumbled something about being an "Artist's Rep". Anyway - the best part was sitting in an interoffice memo envelope - there sat two pieces of wood -- you got it - a mitten blocker complete with thumbs for a size medium woman's mitten - I couldn't believe my luck! I could now block a mitten in less than a minute! Then Jimmy's note said that his mom used to use them and if I wanted he could whip me out some more - how about a dozen! Be still my heart! Now I can do 6 pairs of mittens at a time! Well they're still working great - I must admit to having gifted 3 pairs to some very good friends (see I do share sometimes). And they still make stranded mittens look amazing! Thanks hubby for having such great friends like Jimmy! Oh and Jimmy asked for a pair of woman's small mittens for his wife as payment - man did I make out on that one!